What We Know About Chris Cash, Acquitted in UK China Spying Case

London, United Kingdom — Chris Cash, a former parliamentary researcher acquitted of spying for China, has told the BBC he was a "convenient fall guy" for police and security services seeking to put espionage threats from foreign states "on the map."

The comments, made in Cash's first interview since his acquittal, came as he shared more than 6,000 messages with the BBC's politics investigations correspondent, Joe Pike, in a report published by BBC News.

Who is Chris Cash and what was he accused of?

Cash worked as a parliamentary researcher before he and a second man, Chris Berry, were charged with spying for China. Both were acquitted. The case, and the government's handling of it, triggered a political dispute over ministers' refusal to formally designate China as a "threat" to the United Kingdom, according to the BBC.

What do the messages show?

According to the BBC, the messages Cash provided show a Chinese official sought information on sensitive political matters in the UK, including the 2022 Conservative Party leadership contest that determined the next prime minister. Cash told the broadcaster he was "unprofessional and naive" to send "gossiping" texts about those matters to Berry, who was in China at the time.

"Convenient fall guy" — Chris Cash, describing his role in the case, to the BBC

What does Chris Berry say?

Berry, who was also acquitted of espionage, declined to comment for the BBC's story. He has previously denied any wrongdoing and said he had been "unfairly subjected to a trial by media," the broadcaster reported.

Why did the case become a political row?

The acquittals reopened debate in Westminster over whether the government should label China a security threat outright. The BBC reported that the collapse of the prosecution "sparked a political row" over the government's failure to make that designation, though the broadcaster's report did not detail specific ministerial responses.

By the numbers

• 6,000+ — messages Cash shared with the BBC documenting contact tied to the case.
• 2022 — the year of the Conservative Party leadership contest referenced in the messages, according to the BBC.

What to watch

• Whether the UK government revisits calls to formally designate China a national security "threat" following the acquittals.
• Any further comment from Chris Berry, who has so far declined to discuss the specifics of the messages.
• Parliamentary or government response to Cash's claim that he was used as a "fall guy" by police and security services.
• Additional reporting from the BBC's Joe Pike, who conducted the interview and reviewed the message trove.

The full interview and underlying reporting are available via BBC News.